Demo basement before interior designer brought in?

11 years ago

We have a finished basement in our house with an absurd layout. We have already spent a chunk of change trying to reconfigure it, but with the current location of the stairs and bathroom nothing works. We are planning on a budget of $115k for a remodel. We are hiring a designer for this, but we're wondering if it would be easier for them to better conceptualize our vision and mix in their ideas if we went ahead and just demolished it before hand? Thanks in advance.

Featured Answer

printesa

11 years ago

I would have first a discussion with the designer/architect..don't demolish first

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Comments (8)

Henry Norcom
Original Author
11 years ago
We meet with a designer in two weeks. I am willing to listen to what she has to say, but am pretty sure she will definitely not like the 20 ft maze of a hallway that one has to walk to reach the main area
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printesa
11 years ago
Even if you know what she will say, don't demolish anything..let her see the place and see what she comes up with. You have a large budget..demolishing won't be the most expensive thing
Henry Norcom
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks, you make great points!
lefty47
11 years ago
HI -- A good talented designer will be able to see beyond what is there now . If the designer is only talking about working with it the way it is , then find another designer . I can come into a space and see how it could be better and they should be able to do that also. Most designers are trained to do that . So no need to demo before they come to look and measure .
PRO
Brickwood Builders, Inc.
11 years ago
One of the things that you might should know before meeting with the designer is which of the existing walls is load bearing.
Henry Norcom
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks for the response. I have located which walls are load bearing and which can go. But I will let the designer/architect provide a solution to this absolutely horrible layout.
Henry Norcom
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks Lefty. I too will hope they can see it, and judging from their portfolio and on line reviews the first designer we are going to meet with apparently has this down pact.